Former Mandeville Mayor Eddie Price is hoping for a sentence of two to three years in jail when he comes before a federal judge tomorrow, about half the term recommended by official guidelines, according to a memo filed by his attorney this week.

The Times-Picayune archiveEddie Price, right, with his attorney Ralph Whalen

The

sentencing memo, from attorney Ralph Whalen to U.S. District Judge Martin Feldman, paints Price as a well-intentioned but careless politician whose crimes were "for convenience more than for corrupt purposes."

Price pleaded guilty to federal charges of corruption and income tax evasion in October, a week after stepping down as Mandeville's mayor.

In the plea, Price accepting free golf trips to Pebble Beach from Rick Meyer, Mandeville's engineer, and Don McMath, a developer responsible for several private projects in the city. He also admitted to using campaign funds to pay for personal expenses, including money lost wagering on golf games.

Price will appear in federal court Thursday morning for sentencing, a hearing that comes after several delays. Court officials have warned that no more delays will be granted in the case.

Whalen's memo notes that federal guidelines call for Price to be sentenced to between 57 months and 71 months for the crimes, in part because he was mayor at the time he committed them. The defense attorney suggested to the judge that he sentence Price to between two and three years, in part because Price has already lost his position and prestige because of his plea.

"Mr. Price has not only lost his position as mayor, but has lost what would likely have been a position as the next Parish President of St. Tammany," Whalen argues in the memo. "Any period of incarceration would be adequate to deter criminal conduct, considering the consequences to this defendant. It hardly needs to be said that the public needs no protection from Eddie Price."

The document also argues that Price was simply careless in his actions and did not intend to be swayed by the golf trips or inappropriately use campaign funds. Price saw the trips as a friendly outing and not a bribe and thought the use of campaign funds would be ok since he had contributed personally to his campaign and thought the contributions and debits would "balance out," according to the memo.

However, Whalen also acknowledges that Price's actions were violations of the state's ethics code and the legal necessity of imposing jail time to promote respect for the law.

Many observers have speculated that the former mayor may have been cooperating with authorities after his sentencing, particularly in light of the several delays in his trial and the potential connections between his crimes and similar cases in Jefferson and St. John the Baptist parishes. The sentencing memo does not mention any such cooperation.